Have you heard? We don't have to do ''10,000 steps per day'' anymore. 

A brand-new study just dropped on this, and it's a banger.

For decades, the fitness world has hammered home “10,000 steps a day” as the universal benchmark for health. A number that everyone fell back on, stamped on every pedometer, fitness tracker, and office health challenge.

It always seemed a bit ambitious, and needlessly so.

But here’s the thing: ambitious targets don’t just motivate, they can alienate. In chasing that round number, a lot of people would see it as a mountain far too big to get started on, and end up feeling like they’ve failed before they’ve even started. 

As we've come to know, the 10,000-step goal wasn’t based on hard science. It originated from a 1960s marketing campaign in Japan. It stuck and became a kind of health folklore, repeated but not rigorously tested.

The result? 

Millions push for a target that, while not harmful, can feel out of reach for busy adults, older adults, or anyone juggling real-life demands. When we set health goals too high, two things happen: 

We leave behind the folks who most need help. The ones for whom 10,000 steps is intimidating.

We turn exercise into an “all or nothing” game. 

Research shows that many who fell short simply gave up instead of adjusting expectations. This massive study led by the University of Sydney analysed 57 studies, over ten countries, and hundreds of thousands of adults.

Researchers found a new line in the sand: 7,000 steps a day is enough to slash your risk of death by up to 47%, and stacks up nearly identically against the classic 10,000-step magic number when it comes to heart health, dementia, diabetes, and depression. 

After 7,000 steps, extra benefits start to plateau. 

Now, let’s be honest: how many of us, with jam-packed lives full of meetings, deadlines, and school drop-offs, can reliably hit 10,000 steps every day? 

Of course, it's doable, but you've got to stretch. For many, the pressure doesn’t improve health; it just increases guilt.

So what does this mean for us? It means finally making the shift away from perfection and towards accessibility. Setting an achievable target (7,000 steps or under) not only opens the floodgates for everyone but also empowers us to make real progress, not chase elusive, nonsensical ideals. 

Small increases in step counts, even from 2,000 to 4,000, mean concrete, measurable health wins. 

If you want to move more, start simple:

• Park further from the office (if you live in Sydney, you're probably already doing it lol)
• Take walking meetings. 
• Use the stairs, not the lift.
• Take that lunch break.
• Leave the car at home sometimes. 
• Book your friends for weekly walk catch-ups. 
• Do some bodyweight squats frequently (there's a great little study on this).
• Make early morning steps ''you time''.
• Make after-dinner walks a habit (can be good for digestion).

TL;DR: 7,000 steps a day can change your life. It’s not lowering the bar; it’s making it reachable, so people can step up to it in the first place. 

CONTACT US

I'm located at the far end of Leichhardt street, pronounced ''like-arrt'' and spelled with not one, but two silent h's. Right?! 

Anyway, it's a one-way street controlled by at least two brush turkeys with a taste for small dogs. Come alone and be vigilant.  

Call me on 0411 139 061, or message me on Whatsapp here. 

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Email: danny@bestpersonaltrainerever.com and join my list over there for cool stuff. 

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